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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired a senior member of his administration on Wednesday, August 19, just hours after anti-corruption investigators searched her home as part of a money-laundering investigation involving a series of high-profile legislators, bank executives, and other officials close to the presidency.

Zelenskyy dismissed Iryna Mudra as deputy head of the Office of the President with a one-sentence decree that offered no explanation for her removal.

Zelensky Speaking in UK Ukraine Government Photo

President Donald J.

This past weekend, Disney held its annual D23 celebration, which means there’s major announcements, trailers, and updates from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to catch up on—and some homework for those of you who want to catch up on the essentials before “Avengers: Doomsday” releases this December.
Also Read: We’re still obsessed with hero stories 4,000 years after Gilgamesh
I’ve got the spoiler-free list below and a list with summaries below that… but first, let’s take a quick peek at some of the other fun news that came out of the D23 expo.

More Reserve and National Guard troops who serve long stints on active duty orders may get access to healthcare after a sailor’s class action lawsuit. A new Pentagon policy released Aug. 10 could make tens of thousands of troops eligible for six months of healthcare coverage and pay back out-of-pocket costs incurred by thousands more, advocates told Task & Purpose.

Russia’s oil exports are slumping after Ukrainian attacks have compromised operations at its key Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

Russia’s Western Port Exports Slump

Putin in December of 2023 Creative Commons Image

Putin Speaking in July 2026 Creative Commons Photo

Oil shipments from Russia’s western ports fell to around 2.3 million barrels per day in the first half of August, about 15% below Moscow’s initial loading plan, traders told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Indian Ministry of Defence has unveiled its sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL), identifying 405 new items for domestic production as part of ongoing efforts to reduce import dependence.

A Russian Aerospace Forces Su-35S fighter crossed into Ukrainian-controlled airspace over the Sumy region, flying over the town of Uhroidy and launched a Kh-59/69 guided missile towards Sumy City before returning safely to Russian-controlled airspace in Kursk. The reported sortie is unusual because Russian fourth generation fighters have consistently avoided penetrating Ukrainian airspace, instead relying heavily on missiles and glide bombs to engage targets at range weapons.

High diesel prices are becoming a problem for the U.S. economy and Trump: High gas prices have been a reality for Americans throughout 2026, especially since the war in Iran broke out.

But lately, diesel prices have started to soar even more, threatening ripple effects across the U.S. economy. And that’s something that could create a big political problem for President Trump’s party in November’s midterm elections.

A major joint exercise between U.S. and South Korean troops will end a week earlier than originally planned after President Donald Trump directed that it be scaled back, a Pentagon official confirmed.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began on Monday shortly after Trump posted on social media that he had ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” the U.S. military’s involvement in the training event, which he described as “costly.”
The exercise had originally been scheduled to last until Aug.

What do you get when you cross a Russian drone with a cruise missile? Answer: A new hybrid and more difficult-to-shoot-down weapon called the S8000, or more commonly known as the “Banderol.” The weapon not only presents a considerable new challenge to Ukraine’s air defense forces (PPO), but it also has become an additional method for Moscow to terrorize Ukrainian civilians.

Meet the Banderol Cruise Missile 

Lancet Drone. Image Credit: Russian State Media.

Lancet Drone from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

There is nothing as classic in the crime/murder mystery genre as the infamous “killer returning to the scene of the crime.” In a real-world example of how art imitates life, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have done just that.

For months now, unofficial sources have said Putin has increasingly confined himself to hiding inside underground bunkers or other hardened sites.